University to run diploma course in Arabic

A course leading to a diploma in Arabic is starting at the University of Malta in October in the belief that Malta stands to gain from having a body of persons competent in the language.

Education Minister Louis Galea laid stress on the importance of the knowledge of Arabic for the Maltese, particularly in view of Malta's geographical and political position, which, he said, it should take advantage of.

If Malta truly wanted to fulfil its role as a bridge between Europe and North Africa - a role that has been pronounced since it joined the EU and that it was obliged to carry out effectively - it had to invest in the creation of an Arabic-speaking workforce.

Now that Malta was an EU member, it had a sea of opportunities, particularly from Arab countries - 21 with 250 million inhabitants - to take advantage of, Dr Galea said, stressing the economic benefits and the government's commitment to promote Arabic language and culture.

The diploma was open to public officers and the private sector, who were being motivated to join the course, which is being offered free of charge.

A policy of induction, rather than imposition - as was the case in 1975 - was being adopted, and public officers would have two days off per week to be able to follow the two-year, full-time course during working hours. They would also be given a Lm75 book allowance.

Dr Galea augured that the constituted bodies and employers would understand the importance of this opportunity for government workers from various ministries, including foreign affairs and investment, as well as the private sector; that careers could be built and money earned.

The course has been designed to teach functional, practical Arabic that would be useful in business and commercial situations, allowing those working with Libya to be able to communicate easily with their Libyan counterparts. Apart from diplomatic, legal and business Arabic, it would also focus on Arabic culture and civilisation.

Unfortunately, the number of students studying Arabic at university was minimal and most of them were foreign anyway, Dr Galea said.

Last year, the government embarked on the intensification of measures to reduce this deficit, but the prejudice against the learning of the language, which stemmed from its imposition in the past, has remained strong.

Dr Galea spoke of the need for a change in the perception of the Arab world. Not only was it developed, but it was also sophisticated and could turn into a competitor in various fields. If the goal of raising awareness of the wealth of the Arabic culture and acquiring expertise in the language continued to be neglected, Malta would lose out.

It was time to focus on building the capacity of Malta's human resources, Dr Galea continued.

The reality was that the multi-cultural content of Maltese society was increasing, and was predominantly Arab-speaking. Even the police would benefit from a grasp of the language, in the case of problems concerning illegal immigrants and other criminal investigations.

Personalities have also been invited to create points of encounter between the two worlds, which have strongly influenced each other.

The difference between the diploma and the degree courses lies in the fact that the latter is more academic and research-based, said lecturer Marisa Farrugia from the Department of Arabic and Near Eastern Studies of the university, whose head is Anthony Frendo.

Applications for the course, which is designed for around 20 students, are open until the end of August. Composed of 60 credits, it is targeting mature students and no prior knowledge of Arabic is required.

Any queries when filling in the application forms can be directed to the Staff Development Organisation.

For more information on the course, contact the Education, Youth and Employment Ministry on 2124 5389 and 7943 0666.